Rana Habeeb (also
Nazir), played by
Bhavna Limbachia, made her first on-screen appearance on 19 February 2016. The character and casting was announced on 8 January. In regards to her casting, Limbachia commented "I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining the show. Being a proud Northerner, it's a dream come true." Rana was introduced as a love interest for
Zeedan Nazir (
Qasim Akhtar) and an old friend of his sister
Alya (
Sair Khan). Following a visit to catch up with Alya, Rana found employment at the local medical centre. The show's former series producer Stuart Blackburn described Rana as "sharp, funny, utterly gorgeous and not a little manipulative." In January 2019, it was announced Rana would be killed off after Limbachia quit the role, and the character was written off on 20 March 2019. Rana first appears having a meal with Alya in the bistro, and the latter's brother, Zeedan, becomes attracted to her. Rana flirts with him and
Andy Carver (
Oliver Farnworth). She leaves, and Alya's grandparents,
Sharif (Marc Anwar) and
Yasmeen Nazir (
Shelley King), ask her to return soon as she brought a lot of happiness back into Alya's life. Rana wants to have sex with Zeedan, but he prefers to wait until after marriage, which they break up and reconcile regularly over. They agree to take their relationship slowly, but Zeedan becomes jealous when she talks to other men. After Zeedan argues with Sharif, he and Rana have a heart-to-heart, which ends in Zeedan proposing to Rana, and her running off. Later, Zeedan asks Rana to forget his proposal, but she says she wants to marry him, and they seal their engagement with a kiss. Rana supports Zeedan when Sharif is discovered to be having an affair with
Sonia Rahman (
Sudha Bhuchar), but the revelation forces Zeedan to question his beliefs in marriage, and after an awkward meal with Rana's parents, breaks off their engagement. Rana is crushed and is adamant that this is the end of her relationship with Zeedan, but
Leanne Battersby (
Jane Danson) helps the pair reconcile. Zeedan and Rana marry immediately, with Rana's parents, Yasmeen, Leanne and
Nick Tilsley (
Ben Price) witnessing the ceremony. Zeedan is keen to start a family, but Rana is less certain. Rana secretly begins taking contraceptive pills without his knowledge. When Zeedan refuses to talk to Alya after learning she knew of Sharif's affair, Rana tries to act as peacemaker. She is successful at first, but when the gym where Zeedan works—partly owned by Sharif—shuts down due to Sharif
embezzling money to give it to Alya, he makes it clear he cannot forgive his sister. Upset to see her family not getting along, Yasmeen also pressures Rana to have a child, hoping it will bring everyone together. Rana snaps and reveals she is not ready for children yet after Yasmeen buys her an ovulation predictor kit. In September 2017, Rana falls out with her close friend, lesbian
Kate Connor (
Faye Brookes), when Kate thinks Rana is homophobic. Rana keeps out of Kate's way until she breaks up with her girlfriend, and they make up. After getting drunk Rana kisses Kate admitting to her she is confused about her feelings although she tells Zeedan she wants to try for a baby. Despite having feelings for Kate, Rana tries to move on and gets married properly to Zeedan, as their first marriage was not officially legal and on the wedding day deletes a voicemail Kate leaves telling her that she loves her. A few weeks later, Rana and Kate confess their love for each other and they passionately kiss, with Rana telling Kate she will tell Zeedan. She does not, and when
Luke Britton (Dean Fagan) finds out he tells her to tell Zeedan, herself. She lies and says she is pregnant to get him off her back. Rana and Kate continue their affair, but they are discovered when Kate's cousin,
Michelle Connor (
Kym Marsh), robs the bistro and spots them together. Michelle blackmails Kate, saying that if she goes to the police about her committing the robbery she will tell Zeedan about the affair. Michelle and Kate later make up and Michelle starts letting Rana and Kate use her and
Robert Preston's (
Tristan Gemmill) flat for them to continue their affair. Robert discovers the two together one night, but keeps it a secret. In January 2018, Rana confesses her love for Kate to Zeedan, and he ends their marriage, and forces her to give her wedding ring back to him. A few days later Zeedan forces Rana to confess about her affair to her parents, disgusting the both of them. Rana's father Hassan makes a deal with Zeedan: if he and Rana pretend to be married for the next year in order to maintain the family's reputation, he will make Zeedan's business venture happen. Although initially reluctant, Rana agrees. In March 2018, Kate visits Rana and they kiss which Zeedan sees. After she picks Kate over her family, Hassan disowns her. When Hassan has a stroke, Rana's mother Saira stops her from seeing him in hospital and she has to lie that she is no longer with Kate to see him just as he dies. Later in 2018, Kate and Rana propose to each other at the same time. The engagement is called off when the two discuss having a child; Rana does not want a child, causing the two of them to split up. They eventually get back together as a couple on New Year's Eve and re-plan their wedding and life together. On 20 March 2019, Rana dies with Kate by her side on their wedding day after being trapped under the rubble in the Underworld factory collapse. During the investigation into the roof collapse, the cause is determined to be sabotage. On 31 May 2019, her ghost returns to haunt
Carla Connor (
Alison King), who knew the factory roof was unsafe because of fire damage and whose mental health was spiralling out of control. On the same day, her murderer is revealed to be
Gary Windass (
Mikey North). ==Lauren==